Un: Israel Out Of South Lebanon

June 16, 2000

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan verified Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon on Friday, clearing the way for a 4,500-strong UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon to move to the border to keep the peace. Annan said he would now like to see the Lebanese army deploy its forces in southern Lebanon, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerillas are currently the de facto authority. However, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud underlined his country's reluctance to send its armed forces to the region. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 and occupied part of southern Lebanon as a buffer against guerrilla attacks on northern Israel from 1985 until its withdrawal on May 24.